Plot Twist!
Caitlin woke up that morning with an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was the day of the talent show at her high school, and Caitlin had signed up to showcase her singing talent. She'd been a bundle of nerves the last few days, practicing her song over and over, and fretting about every little note. When she got out of bed that morning and pulled the blinds of the window open, she felt dejected seeing dark clouds gathering in the sky, as the sky rumbled ominously. Great, Caitlin thought to herself, looks like the weather is not on my side today.
She dressed and went downstairs for breakfast, where her mother was waiting with a worried look on her face. "I have some bad news, Cat. The car broke down so I won't be able to drive you to school today. But I'll get it fixed as soon as the mechanic arrives, and make it in time to watch you perform." Looking worried, Caitlin gulped down some breakfast and headed out, only half-heartedly returning her mother's hug.
Not having the car meant that Caitlin had to walk to school, and though it was only a few blocks away, Caitlin was not looking forward to the walk. Almost as if on cue, the skies split open as soon as she took a few steps, and in a few minutes, the rain was pouring down heavily. Caitlin's jacket was powerless against the torrential rain, and by the time she reached school, she was completely drenched. Shivering and feeling annoyed, Caitlin made her way backstage, where all the participants were gathering.
All the other students looked great—they were wearing their best clothes, and their hair was perfectly in place. When Caitlin looked at herself in the mirror, she was aghast. Her clothes were soaked and muddy, and her hair was an absolute mess. Her eyes welled up with tears and she considered giving up and going home. I can't perform like this, she thought. I knew from the minute I woke up that today is not my day. I should just go home and avoid any more mishaps. But looking at the other students rehearsing, Caitlin remembered all the months of hard work she had put in to prepare for this day. She couldn't just throw all that work away and disappoint not only her parents, but also herself.
Caitlin's thoughts suddenly wandered to a bumper sticker she'd read on a car a few days ago. It said "When something goes wrong in your life, just yell 'Plot twist!' and move on!" Caitlin laughed out loud and yelled "Plot twist!" causing many heads to turn in her direction. When she thought back to the events of the day, they suddenly seemed more comical than dramatic. Overcome with a new confidence, Caitlin took deep breaths and prepared to go on stage.
When her name was called, she ran up on stage, and tripped. A collective gasp went through the audience, but Caitlin simply smiled, got up, and approached the mic. "What can I say, I guess I just love to make an entrance!" she said to the crowd, who laughed and cheered. Caitlin finished her performance to resounding applause from the crowd, and left the stage beaming.
Backstage, she saw one of her competitors sitting alone in a corner, looking anxious. When she asked him if he was all right, he told her he was too scared to go on stage. Caitlin sat down beside him and said, "I know how you feel, but trust me, it's going to be OK. Just go out there and have fun, without thinking about the results. I just discovered that a sense of humor can do wonders for your confidence!" She shared the "Plot twist!" joke with him and was glad to see that it made him laugh. He thanked her for making him feel better, and went on stage to perform. He had a beautiful voice, and Caitlin could tell that he was even better than she was. But instead of being worried, Caitlin was happy at how well the day had turned out after all.
How does the structure of the passage contribute to the tension in the passage? A. The description of the competitors' appearance shows the decision that Caitlin has to make. B. The description of the rain creates an atmosphere of despair and danger. C. The foreshadowing in the beginning creates suspense about how the day will turn out. D. The foreshadowing in the beginning creates uncertainty about Caitlin reaching on time
